How to Officially Venerate the Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter. Saint John Paul II formally gave this title to the day for the universal Church, highlighting Christ’s mercy, the forgiveness of sins, and renewed trust in the risen Lord.

One of the most common points of confusion is that two different spiritual gifts are often discussed together on Divine Mercy Sunday. They are related, but they are not the same thing. One is the extraordinary grace associated with the Feast of Mercy; the other is the plenary indulgence granted by the Church.

1) Extraordinary Grace of Divine Mercy Sunday

According to the Divine Mercy devotion associated with Saint Faustina, the soul who makes a good confession, receives Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday, remains in the state of grace, and approaches Jesus with trust may receive the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. In the explanation provided by the Marian Fathers’ Divine Mercy apostolate, this grace is presented distinctly from the plenary indulgence and does not include the separate technical requirement of complete detachment from all sin that belongs to indulgence theology.

What is needed for this extraordinary grace

Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation beforehand, receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday, remain in the state of grace, and come to Jesus with sincere trust in His mercy.

Prayer for Extraordinary Grace

After receiving Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday, pray with faith and trust:

“Lord Jesus, You promised Saint Faustina Kowalska that the soul who goes to confession and receives Holy Communion on this day will receive the complete forgiveness of all sin and punishment. I have. Please give me this grace. Jesus, I trust in You.”

The Heart of This Devotion

The short prayer most closely associated with Divine Mercy is:

“Jesus, I trust in You.”

This prayer expresses the central response Jesus asks for in the Divine Mercy message: trust in Him and confidence in His merciful love.

2) Plenary Indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday

Separate from the extraordinary grace above, the Church also grants a plenary indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday under the usual conditions established by the Apostolic Penitentiary. This is where the requirement of complete detachment from all sin, even venial sin, applies.

What is needed for the plenary indulgence

To receive the plenary indulgence, the faithful must fulfill the usual conditions: sacramental confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, and complete detachment from all sin. In addition, they should take part in prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or at least pray the Our Father and the Creed before the Blessed Sacrament, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus.

Why the Difference Matters

These two graces should not be blended together as though they had identical requirements. The extraordinary grace of the Feast of Mercy is commonly presented in Divine Mercy spirituality as tied to Confession, Holy Communion, state of grace, and trust. The plenary indulgence, by contrast, follows the Church’s established indulgence requirements, including complete detachment from sin. Keeping them separate helps users understand the devotion accurately and avoid unnecessary confusion.

Simple Reference Guide

Extraordinary Grace of Divine Mercy Sunday

Plenary Indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday

Living the Devotion Well

Whether one is seeking the extraordinary grace of the feast or the plenary indulgence granted by the Church, Divine Mercy Sunday should be approached with repentance, trust, reverence, and a sincere desire to become more merciful toward others. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy remains a beloved and fitting devotion for the day, and the USCCB provides the approved text for praying it.


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